"You mustnít feel bad," he said, kindly; "things will straighten out
in the course of time."

She made no answer, because she could think of nothing to say.

"We are good friends, arenít we?" he said, extending his hand.

"Yes," she answered.

"Not a word, then, until I see you again."

He retained a hold on her hand.

"I canít promise," she said, doubtfully.

"You must be more generous than that," he said, in such a simple
way that she was touched.

"Letís not talk about it any more," she returned.

"All right," he said, brightening.

He went down the steps and into his cab. Carrie closed the door
and ascended into her room. She undid her broad lace collar
before the mirror and unfastened her pretty alligator belt which
she had recently bought.

"Iím getting terrible," she said, honestly affected by a feeling of
trouble and shame. "I donít seem to do anything right."

She unloosed her hair after a time, and let it hang in loose brown
waves. Her mind was going over the events of the evening.

"I donít know," she murmured at last, "what I can do."

"Well," said Hurstwood as he rode away, "she likes me all right;
that I know."

The aroused manager whistled merrily for a good four miles to his
office an old melody that he had not recalled for fifteen years.